Lexical Summary atheq: Ancient, old Original Word: עָתֵק Strong's Exhaustive Concordance durable From athaq; antique, i.e. Valued -- durable. see HEBREW athaq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atheq Definition valuable, advanced, eminent, surpassing NASB Translation enduring (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs עָתֵק adjective Thes (ancient and so) valuable; < advanced, eminent, surpassing (compare  preceding, hence surpassing, choice Lane1947); — ׳הוֺן ע Proverbs 8:18 eminent wealth. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting The adjective עָתֵק appears once in the Old Testament, in the Wisdom discourse of Proverbs 8. Wisdom personified declares, “With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness” (Proverbs 8:18). Within the literary frame of Proverbs, this single usage invests the term with particular weight: the treasures associated with divine wisdom are not transient but enduring. Theological Significance 1. Permanence versus transience. Throughout Scripture, true blessing is frequently contrasted with fleeting worldly gain (Psalm 49:16-17; Matthew 6:19-21). By describing wealth as עָתֵק, Proverbs 8 points to treasure that remains intact across generations and, ultimately, into eternity. Intercanonical Connections • Proverbs 8:18 anticipates New Testament teaching on “treasure in heaven” (Luke 12:33-34) and the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8). Historical and Rabbinic Insight Early Jewish commentary recognized Wisdom’s wealth as Torah itself—durable because God’s word “stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). Later rabbinic tradition linked the term to the enduring honor of those who study and live out God’s precepts, reinforcing the unity of spiritual and material blessing under divine covenant. Practical and Ministry Application • Discipleship: Believers are urged to evaluate investments—time, resources, affections—in light of their durability. Church teaching can anchor stewardship programs in the concept of עָתֵק, steering congregations toward ministries that produce eternal dividends. Christological Perspective Wisdom’s self-presentation in Proverbs 8 is a foreshadowing of Christ, “who has become for us wisdom from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In Him are “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The durable wealth of עָתֵק thus reaches its fullest expression in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, whose resurrection guarantees that those united to Him possess riches “that will never perish, spoil, or fade” (1 Peter 1:4). Forms and Transliterations עָ֝תֵ֗ק עתק ‘ā·ṯêq ‘āṯêq aTekLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Proverbs 8:18 HEB: אִתִּ֑י ה֥וֹן עָ֝תֵ֗ק וּצְדָקָֽה׃ NAS: and honor are with me, Enduring wealth KJV: and honour [are] with me; [yea], durable riches INT: for wealth Enduring and righteousness |
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